`Frustrated' Riddick Quits Council Race

Allentown City Council hopeful Robert L. Riddick announced yesterday that he is withdrawing from the race and plans to move to a bigger city where he believes his ideas will be valued.

"I don't want to be part of something that I know is not going to work," said Riddick, whose announcement comes about a month before the primary election.

Riddick, abandonning his bid for the Democratic nomination after a previous unsuccessful effort in 1991, said he is frustrated by racism in Allentown and a lack of support from minorities who he believes are not willing to fight to end racism.

Riddick, 35, cited racism in WLVT-TV's decision against a televised debate for the 10 Democrats running for City Council.

"There's three blacks and a Hispanic running for City Council," Riddick said, explaining what he believes contributed to the decision.

Channel 39 President Sheldon P. Siegel, has said that a program with 10 candidates would be impossible to manage and could not be done in the time the station allows for election forums.

Riddick said he is considering moving to Baltimore, Chicago or Atlantic City, where he said he can make a difference.

"I am going where I think black people want something," he said. "I have no support here.

"I'm too revolutionary to win in this city. They are scared of me," he said.

According to Riddick, racism is the main source of Allentown's problems. He said the city does not make an effort to hire minorities, who make up much of the city's downtown population.

Crime has increased, he said, because organized recreation is lacking and because many do not have jobs. He believes it is because of racial bias.

"Allentown is changing, but the white City Council is not changing and listening to the problems that are going on," he said.

"I see nothing but hell for Allentown." He predicted that the city will become more like New York in terms of violent crime."

Riddick said his warnings and offers to bridge talks between the city and poor minorities have not been valued.